Macaroni salad is a popular international dish that has made its way to Iranian tables. Its popularity has grown to the point where it is also served at parties and gatherings. Depending on your taste and preference, you can add or remove various ingredients from this dish.
Introduction
If you live by the sea and enjoy seafood, you can use canned tuna for this salad. Tuna enhances the flavor of the macaroni salad, making it delicious and appetizing. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to make this delightful salad and share some tips to make it even more delicious.
Ingredients for Macaroni Salad (for 4 people):
Shaped macaroni: 1 pack
Chicken breast, ham, or tuna: 300g
Green peas: 100g
Corn: 100g
Mayonnaise: as needed
Pickles: 6 medium-sized
Salt and black pepper: to taste
Boiled carrots: 3 medium-sized
Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients
To make the macaroni salad, first prepare all the ingredients and place them on the counter. Then, bring water to a boil in a suitable pot. Once the water boils, add some salt and a bit of turmeric. The salt will prevent the macaroni from becoming sticky, and the turmeric will give the macaroni a golden color.
Step 2: Adding the Macaroni
Next, add the shaped macaroni to the boiling water. After the macaroni is fully cooked, drain it. To remove excess starch from the macaroni, rinse it with cold water. Let the extra water drain out of the colander.
Step 3: Chopping the Salad Ingredients
In this step, chop the pickles, carrots, and chicken breast or ham into small cubes. Use a large bowl for this. Then, add half of the corn and peas to the mix. Set aside the rest of the corn and peas for garnishing the salad, if desired.
Step 4: Adding the Macaroni and Mayonnaise
Next, add the cooked macaroni to the bowl. Now it's time to add the mayonnaise. For a healthier version, you can mix some yogurt with the mayonnaise. To make the salad tastier, adjust the seasoning by adding salt and black pepper. Now, the salad is ready to be garnished as you like. Cover the bowl with a suitable lid, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap to prevent the salad from drying out. Place the salad in the fridge to rest and allow the flavors to meld.
Tips for Making Macaroni Salad
There are some tricks to making macaroni salad even more delicious. In some recipes, the use of aromatic herbs is highly recommended. You can add fresh basil, tarragon, and parsley. Be sure to use them sparingly, as one cup of chopped herbs is enough for the salad.
Dried dill is also used in some recipes to enhance the flavor. A few drops of fresh lemon juice will improve the salad's taste. Adding tuna and dry or smoked sausages will make your salad incredibly delicious. This salad can also be made in a healthy version. If you love healthy, natural foods, continue reading.
Making Healthy Macaroni Salad
For a healthier version, you can replace mayonnaise with olive oil, which is a healthier option. Chicken is a healthier and more natural choice compared to ham. You can flavor the salad with olive oil, dried dill, black pepper, and fresh lemon juice. Adding a few pieces of boiled and chopped potatoes can also make the salad more nutritious.
How to Mold the Macaroni Salad
To give your macaroni salad a neat and beautiful look, you can mold it. It's best to line the bottom of the mold with plastic wrap. Then, pour the salad mixture into the mold.
Make sure the ingredients fill the entire mold and cover the surface. Cover the mold with another layer of plastic wrap and place it in the fridge. Once the salad has rested and set, it’s ready to be removed from the mold.
How to Keep Macaroni Salad from Drying Out
Sometimes, macaroni salad can absorb all the mayonnaise and become dry after being refrigerated. This happens because of the absorbent nature of the shaped macaroni. To prevent this, add a little olive oil to the salad mixture. A few drops of olive oil will keep the salad moist and shiny.
Making a Delicious and Unique Dressing for Macaroni Salad
To end, here's a recipe for a delicious and unique dressing for your macaroni salad. You will need mayonnaise, olive oil, dried dill, fresh yogurt, grated garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and thyme. You can use equal amounts of mayonnaise and fresh yogurt. Add the grated garlic to the mayonnaise and yogurt mixture.
Olive oil and dried dill will give your salad a delightful flavor. Now, add lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and thyme to the dressing. Mix well and let the flavors combine. This dressing is now ready to be used for your macaroni salad.